Sports -SPORTS/briefly - September 30, 2000 09/30/00

AKRON, Ohio Pat Knight, the son of former Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight, joined Akron's coaching staff Friday as an assistant coach.

Pat Knight spent the last two seasons as one of his father's assistants, but left Indiana this month when his father was fired.

''I'm just happy to be coaching again,'' Knight said. ''With the timing of when we left Indiana, I was facing a year of not coaching. So I'm fortunate for this opportunity.''

Knight will start at Akron on Oct. 16, when assistant coach Saint Crawford leaves for a job at another school, Zips head coach Dan Hipsher said.

''We're extremely fortunate and grateful at this late date to be able to bring in someone who has the experience and knowledge that Pat has,'' Hipsher said. ''With only two weeks until the season starts, it's a great advantage for us to be able to bring in someone who understands the motion offense like he does. It's a perfect fit for us and for him.''

Pat Knight, 30, played at Indiana from 1991-95. He was an administrative assistant and scout for the NBA's Phoenix Suns in 1996 and an assistant coach with the CBA's Connecticut Pride in 1997.

Lakers release Chuck Person

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. Chuck Person, once one of the NBA's top outside shooters, was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Known as ''The Rifleman,'' Person came to the Lakers along with Horace Grant, Greg Foster and Emanual Davis from Seattle as part of a four-team, 12-player deal finalized last week.

Person, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1987 after averaging 18.8 points for the Indiana Pacers, played in 37 games for the SuperSonics last season, averaging 2.8 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Person, 36, also played for Minnesota and San Antonio.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said earlier this week that Person had taken a physical examination, and the player's future would be determined before the start of training camp next week.

Weinke expected to go against Miami

Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke is expected to play Oct. 7 against Miami after tests showed he did not break any bones in his left foot during Thursday night's victory at Maryland.

''Chris has a midfoot sprain,'' Dr. Tom Haney said Friday. ''He will be protected during practice, but we do expect him to be able to practice Monday. How much he can actually do at practice we don't know yet.''

Weinke threw three touchdown passes before leaving early in the third quarter of the No. 2 Seminoles' 59-7 victory over Maryland. His third TD pass gave him 58 for his career, breaking Danny Kanell's school record.

''I'm just relieved that there is nothing that says I'm definitely out,'' Weinke said. ''Obviously, I've got a lot of confidence in our medical staff and I trust what they tell me. I'm a lot sorer today that I was last night, but I've got a few days to rest before we get going.''